Clothespin



June 24, 1941. H. R. F. STENDER CLOTHESPIN Filed March 25, 1939 P15 a IIPatented June 24, 1941 sr'rrs CLOTHESPIN [Hermann R. F. Stender, SanFrancisco, Calif.

Application March 25, 1939, Serial No. 264,145

V and 2 that the improved clothespin includes a 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in clothespins and has particularreference to a clamping clothespin which may be applied to anyclothesline and embodies a spring clip member which holds the clothespinsecurely upon the clothesline and further embodies a means for clampingclothing between two spring-pressed elements of the clothespin.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple andefficientclothespin of the class set forth which employs a springelement capable of holding in position the two clamping members of theclothespin while at the same time allowing movement of said clampingmembers relative to each other in either direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothespin of thischaracter which may be readily clamped to the clothesline by means ofthe spring clip member, which clip member, when clamped to theclothesline, normally causes one element of the device to be extendedrelative to the other element under spring tension.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is positive in its operation and which will securelyclamp both the line and the clothing applied to the clothes- Otherobjects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved clothespin, showing thesame in expanded position and as it would appear normally upon theclothesline;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the clothespin, showing the clamping elementsthereof in operative position and the spring clip gripping theclothesline;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, further illustrating thespring clip member of the clothespin relative to one of the clampingelements thereof;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the clothespin, showing the same as itappears clamped to a clothesline;

Fig. 5 is a plan view per se of the spring clip of the device;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the movable element of the clothespin; and

Fig. 7 is a side view of the comparatively fixed element of theclothespin.

It will be apparent with reference to Figs. 1

clamping element 8 and a clamping element 9. The clamping element 8includes a curved or notched section I0 formed at its lower end, and theclam-ping element 9 has formed at its lower end a tapered section I lcapable of entering the notched section ill of the element 8. Theelements 8 and 9 are held together by means of a spring clip element l2which consists of a spring wire bent upon itself to form sections I3 andit. The section I3 thereof is normally mounted in a notch l5 formed inthe element 8, and the section I4 thereof extends around the sides ofboth the elements 3 and 9 and terminates in a notch iii formed in theupper end of the element 9.

It will be noted with reference to Fig. 2, which shows the pin inoperative position, that the connecting section ll of the clip isnormally arranged at an angle and that the upper end of .the element 9is provided with a cam element l8,

whereby when the elements 8 and 9 are assembled, the camming element I8forms a fulcrum point normally bearing against the upper inner face ofthe element 3; and when a clothespin is applied to a line [9 by means ofa slotted section 2% formed in the upper end of the element 3, the clipelement [2 will cause spring tension to be applied to both elements 8and 9. Under normal conditions these elements will assume the positionshown in Fig. 1. However, when the clothing is applied between theelements 3 and 9 and the element 9 is forced to the position shown inFig. 2 against the tension of the spring clip, the clothing will beclamped tightly between these elements and will be held in positionuntil released.

Normally in open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the element 9 is spreadapart from the element 8 and is slightly shorter than the element 8.However, when tension is applied to the clip i2 by means of theclothesline iii, the element 9 is forced downwardly, "and it may besnapped into position, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will, therefore, be noted that I have provided a clothespin which isnot only simple in character but is also positive in its operation, anda device which will securely clamp and hold the clothing between theelements 8 and 9, and which may be easily operated to clamp the same inposition upon the clothesline.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes relative to the material,

face of said element and adjacent its opposite end being equipped withboth a spaced clothesline receiving recess and a notch capable ofreceiving the top portion of said clip, the other of said elementshaving formed at its lower end a tapered section capable of entering thenotched section of said first-mentioned gripping element, whereby uponactuation of said spring clip, one of said elements will be forceddownwardly with relation to the other of said elements, and clothesplaced between said elements will be gripped.

HERMANN R. F. STENDER.

